"A Kodiak Moment"
#78708
After his brother dies, Maurice realizes he has no heir to the Minnifield empire and asks Chris to become his son. Meanwhile, Shelly tags along when Holling and Ed go after an elusive brown bear, and Joel is not amused when Maggie takes over his out-of-town childbirthing classes on MCA TV International's "NORTHERN EXPOSURES" episode entitled "A Kodiak Moment". The segment was written by Steve Wasserman and Jessica Klein and directed by Max Tash.
Maurice is seddned by the news that his brother, Colonel Malcom P. Minnifield, the last of the great foot.lose flyboys, has died. When Maurice learns that Chris Steven's parents are both deceased, he offers him the Minnifield name and fortune. Chris is hexitant but agrees to try the father and son relationship. The bonding process goes reasonably well, but Maurice's advice and intervention begin to wear on Chris. Maurice points out that Chris is now part of the Minnifield lineage and must appreciate the finer things in life, such stance, Chris quits. Eventually, Maurice and Chris agree that adoption is not the answer. MAurice also realizes that he has become preoccupied with death and the fact that he is alone. Chris returns the keys to Maurice's Cadillac.
Meanwhile, Joel finds out that he is obligated to teach a Prepared Childbirth class, and the assignment is a hygiene course in boswell. To avoid the six hour drive, he asks Maggie to fly, as well as assist with instructing the pregnant women. Joel and Maggie enter the auditorium and are faced with twelve very pregnant women, their husbands and significant others. Maggie becomes upset that Joel stresses anesthesia rather than natural childbirth. She takes over and teaches the couples meditation and visualization while Joel sits off to the side. In the middle of teaching the couples to time contractions, Nancy goes into labor and Maggie panics. Joel puts down his magazine and orders Maggie to get his bag while Nancy screams for a pain killer. During the flight home, Maggie and Joel compliment each other on a job well done.
Meanwhile at home, Ed tells Holling that Jesse, the infamous bear, has returned, and Shelly tells Holling that she wants to join him in the search. Ed recalls the story of Jesse. It was the summer of '84 and this particular bear terrorized the town and killed a lot of wild stock. Holling and Ed took the dogs and went looking for Jesse. Suddenly Jesse sprung from behind and while Ed ran, the bear took out both dog's throat. Then he turned on Holling, whose gun jammed. Jesse took a good swipe out of Holling, who required 132 stitches on his back. A little later in a clearing, they come across a bear foot print which is readily identified ad Jesse's because Holling had shhot off two of Jesse's toes, and the foot print shows that. The morning comes, and Ed is ready to track Jesse, but Holling and Shelly are busy having fun in the tent. At daybreak on the second day, Ed announces that Jesse is gone. Holling is upset that he failed to meet the challenge, but Shelly tells Holling she is proud that he wwas ready to meet the bear face to face. During the drive back to town, Ed spots Jesse. Unable to wake Holling and Shelly, he grabs his camera and follows Jesse into the woods. The bear, sensing his presence, turn and rises up majestically while Ed, though petrified, catches the moment on film.
That night, Maurice stops byJoel's house to compliment him on helping to bring a child into the world. He tells Joel that he has solved his own problem. He plans to live forever! For amoment, Joel stands alone in the cold night air when suddenly he realizes it is snowing!
Cast & Credits:
Dr. Joel Fleishman......Rob Morrow
Maggie O'Connel.........Janine Turner
Maurice Minnifield......Barry Corbin
Chris Stevens...........John Corbett
Ed......................Darren E. Burrows
Holling Vincoeur........John Cullum
Shelly..................Cinthya Geary
Marilyn.................Elaine Miles
Nancy...................Teri Thomas
Sue Ellen...............Kelle Bradley
Mike....................Wayne Waterman
Phyllis.................Lisa Budak
Skinny Woman............Shana Bestock
Kerry...................Elise Nelson
Executive producers.....Joshua Brand, John Falsey
Produced by.............Robert T. Skodis
Directed by.............Max Tash
Written by..............Steve Wasserman, Jessica Klein
